Health Insurance

This is a government-sponsored program which provides a wide scope of benefits for medical and hospital services for all eligible persons who will maintain a minimum residency of at least three months in Ontario. Coverage begins after three months of residency and does not depend on employment.

If you are returning to Canada and have allowed your provincially funded health coverage to lapse, you will need to apply for OHIP coverage. An Ontario Health Card application, which requires proof of residence in Ontario, should be applied for as soon as possible.

A map and the hours of operation for the Hamilton OHIP office can be accessed here.

University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) was created in 1994 to provide affordable insurance to pay the cost of the hospital and medical services that students or employees at participating universities and colleges in Ontario and their families might need to maintain their health while in Canada. The Plan provides coverage comparable to that of OHIP for Ontario residents.

For all individuals entering Ontario for the first time and for those who are returning and whose OHIP coverage has lapsed, the University Health Insurance Plan will provide for basic health care coverage during the first three months. Enrollment in this program is mandatory for those who do not have OHIP coverage.